France Blocks EU Sanctions Renewal to Secure Release of Citizens Detained in Azerbaijan

France is leveraging the EU's sanctions renewal process, demanding the delisting of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov in exchange for supporting the extension of restrictive measures, aiming to secure the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. This tactic, previously used by Hungary's Orban, has forced a one-week extension of negotiations, highlighting internal EU divisions and the politicization of sanctions.